Last fall I installed a circ pump on a loop from my DHW heater to a flat plate HX. The HX is above the water heater. The loop comes off the bottom of the heater, goes through the HX, and then dumps into the top of the water heater tank at the pressure relief valve.
Here's the problem, now that I am burning propane on the off months my water heater fires SEVERAL times per day, the pipes for the entire loop and the heat exchanger are hot to the touch. I am considering installing a valve at the bottom of the loop that will stop flow in the off season. My question: If I stop the thermosiphon with a valve, will heat conduct through the closed valve and defeat me anyway? Does anyone have an idea on how to resolve this?
Here's the problem, now that I am burning propane on the off months my water heater fires SEVERAL times per day, the pipes for the entire loop and the heat exchanger are hot to the touch. I am considering installing a valve at the bottom of the loop that will stop flow in the off season. My question: If I stop the thermosiphon with a valve, will heat conduct through the closed valve and defeat me anyway? Does anyone have an idea on how to resolve this?
